The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-07

D. Meigs. $40; cash. $40; S. T.
Bowen, $50; 7. Il; K Enos. $40; c. A. Shot
we'll; SO; ". c. Smith, $40; James NJ
Cunning :. T. Buchanan, 6. B. LOOMS. Art
noung V. Carter, T. and p Broadbeck. E. W.
Halford W. j. Holiday. c. B. Burger, Fred and
CLARK collars, J. L. Cloueh, James Hasson, S.
+ E Wadiey. Alex Craig. Florence NJ. Stewart.
Marshall Moore, Willard Mcclure and J. H.
Land, So each; Robert Browning. $40; A L.
Taber, So; W. N Harding $40: Mrs. n. T.
Sproule, 81: IL. S. Austin, ST. F. B. Fowler. s.;
,John G. Blake, $40: c. D. Meigs. additional $50;
basket collection, 900 AZ; total, $6lS 90.
1t was announced that Dr. Brookes, of st.
Louis. had accepted an invitation to be here at
the dedication of the Y NJ. c. A. building and
10 give one weeks Bible readings and interpre-
tations.
To conclude the exercises the delegates of the
convention made circle of the church with
elasped hands singing "Blest Be the Tie That
B'nds," closing with prayer and benedction by
hev A. W. Lamport. of the Central-avenue NJ.
During the day a number of the delegates to
the convention spoke at different churches and
oLher places abous the city j. E. Carter and
W. L. Burris at the Female Reformatory III the
afternoon; Mr. Burris and others at Blackboard
street NJ E. Church in the morning Messrs.
Ober and Hatch at the Fourth Presbyterian
Church; l.. Fl. Merlin and Mr.. Kumagai at the
Sixth Presbyterian Church; Mr.. Hewser at Me-
rldian-street NJ E. Sunday hool; ". p. Doug
Weidensall at the English Lutheran Church.
Awakening Interest in the Sunday School.
Instead of the regular services at Meridian
street M. e. Church. yesterday morning, there
was held mass-meeting for the purpose of
awakening an interest in the Sunday-schoo,
which has always been very prosperous. but.
considering the great number of downtown
young men who attend Sunday school, the
members of the church felt that if the proper
steps are taken the attendance be doubled.
The church was filed many members of the
other Methodist churches in the city being pres
emit. Dr. Gilbert stated the object OF the meet
ing. and addresses were then made by Rev.
Givler, of Bloomington, Ind, and Eli T. Ritter,
of this city
Mr.. Givler spoke on s.The Duty of the Church
to the Sunday school" He said that the mem
oers of the church usually do not devote enough
attention to the Sunday school. It's manage
ment and success always depends upon very
few. This he characterized as all wrong. The
Sunday school should receive much or more
attention than the work of the church proper.
1t is the duty of all church members to attend
Sunday school. and to gather in those who are
not in the habit of attending. There are hun
dreds of young people who remain away from
the Sunday school simply because they are never
church, he said. is to the Sunday-school.
The school is the feeder of the church, and the
larger the school the larger the church eventu-
ally. There are but few regular Sunday school
attendants who do not become members of the
church.
Captain Ritter spoke in reference to the duty
of the Meridian-street Church to its Sunday
school. No other Methodist church in the city.
he said was so favorably situated for the gath
| ering in of young men. Nearly all the other
Methodist churches are in localities remote from
the business part Of the city. where hundreds oil
| young men live. and it becomes the duty OF
| Meridian-street Church. as the only one down
| town. to look after these young men and i..s uce
| them to attend its Sunday school. Heretofore
| no special effort has been made to induce them
| to attend. He thought the matter should be
neglected no longer People often censured
| young men for not attending the Sunday school
| but never extend to them an invitation. He
| had doubt there were hundreds of young ms
| who live about the confer Of the city that could
be easily induced to become regular attendant!
of the school if a special effort is made to ge
| them to do He was glad to see the church
| awakening to the possibilities within its reach
| aad hoped the matter would continue to be agi
| tated.
There were few remarks by members Of tn
congregation, who pledged their hearty co-opera
| ton with the movement There was YER
| large increase in attendance at the Sunday
| school in the afternoon.